By Adam Berls

forest management

Is it time for a rethink of B.C.’s forest practices and policies?

Jan 26, 2024 | 1:27 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — It’s time to rethink forestry practices and policy, according to researchers at UBC. They looked at past hydrology studies and found that many severely and consistently underestimated the impact of forest cover on flood risk, therefore leading to poorly informed forest management policies and practices.

Dr. Younes Alila, a professor in the faculty of forestry at UBC found that clear-cut logging is causing major problems for people and ecosystems, and will continue to do so, unless practices are changed.

Alila said that:

“In B.C. alone, the flood risk is escalating as we continue to lose forest cover due to ongoing large-scale logging and wildfires. If we want to mitigate the costs of disasters like the 2021 flooding in the Fraser Valley or the 2018 flooding in Grand Forks, we need to change the way we manage our forest cover. Regenerative practices such as selective logging, small patch cutting, and other alternatives to clear-cutting are an important way forward.”

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MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie Mike Morris has seen first hand the impacts of clear-cut logging.

“Over the years, I’ve seen the impact of the loss of the forest canopy on the hydrological impacts, on the on the land base, the deep ruts, the the amount of snow that that melts. So quickly in the spring and then dries out the land base over the summer months. And of course, that leads to an increased fire risk.” – Mike Morris, MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie (BC United)

Morris says that based on this new information, new policies and practices need to be adopted and that the forestry industry will also need to adjust.

Dr. Younes Alila says that if practices and policies aren’t changed soon, the change may never arrive, putting communities at risk.

“it will never be done, if it’s not done now. If we’re not motivated by this fact to take a hard look at our policies and regulations associated with forestry and water management, I don’t know if it would ever be done.” – Dr. Younes Alila, Professor, Faculty of Forestry, UBC

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X: @AdamBerls

Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com